Seattle to Asheville, NC

Seattle to Asheville, NC

I am driving from Seattle to Asheville, NC and am looking for those "must stop" recommendations. My route will be Highway 2 through WA state, I-90 through Montana, then down to the Denver area, Ponca City, OK, and across Arkansas and Tennessee and on to Asheville.

On the way home I will take a slightly different route, coming across MO, then up I-29 through western Iowa, across South Dakota, and up into Montana.

I drove Seattle to DC a few years ago and now I'm getting ready to drive the other way, this time with a detour through Tennessee! There's definitely what I like to think of as the Huckleberry milkshake run -- first at Frank's Diner in Spokane, then at Cole Drug in Big Timber, MT. Not sure how long it takes to get to Spokane via 2. But if you stop overnight somewhere past there, Big Timber is right off 90 the next day.

Going West you should definitely go to Edgar's in Elk Point, SD outside of Sioux City. It was amazing. I also had steak in Tea, SD. It was good, but not so I feel I have to go back. This time I'm going to try to hit LeMars or somewhere else in the area for loosemeats.

My plan is south from DC first to Knoxville, then to Henderson, KY (for fried chicken at Bon Ton Mini Mart) via Sebree (for salty lemon ice at Bell's -- I loved salty lemonade in Sicily, so I'm looking forward to this). From there, I'm headed through St. Louis, via Main Street Cafe in New Harmony, IN.

But after St. Louis, I'm at a loss until northwestern IA southeastern SD. Depending on the route I take -- I think I might go across MO and up western IA like you -- I'm not sure where to stop. I don't really have any plans in between St. Louis & Edgar's, so I could go a totally different route if there were a good stop. I considered Cowan's in Washington, MO, but I think it might end up being too early in the day to spend the night there.

After Sioux City, then I head west probably along 20 through Nebraska and to a friend's ranch in eastern Wyoming. That section is something of a blank, too.

The Ole Sawmill Cafe at Exit 241 in Forrest City, AR off I40 is open for breakfast, lunch or dinner and serves outstanding country food. Get off on the S side of I40 on N Washington and go about 2 blocks to Ole Sawmill Cafe on your right. Go to Craig's in De Vall's Bluff, AR. Go to Nick's BBQ in Carlisle, AR. Go to Pruett's in Lonoke, AR.

E of Atkins is a good place for lunch or dinner at Morrilton Drive Inn in Morrilton, AR. Beverly's Diner in Atkins, AR is a nice place to stop for good road food. When you get to Russellville, AR you could stop at CJ's, Colton's, Old Post or Pudgy's for good road food. Headed East on I 40 you could stop in Ozark, AR for good BBQ @ Rivertowne.

Get off I 40 at Exit 325 at Ft. Smith, AR and go E on Robert Pine Blvd. which turns into Garrison Ave. when you cross the river. Go to Rolando's Restaurante for outstanding Mexican cuisine for lunch or dinner. If you prefer BBQ go to Neumeier's Rib Room just down the street.

In Oklahoma City, OK take Exit 139 off I 40 N to Kilpatrick Turnpike. Go 5 miles and take Highway 66 E. Go 6 miles to Ann's Chicken Fry House for outstanding road food for lunch or dinner. When you get your fill of good fried chicken go E less than a mile to I 44 and go S to I 40 about 3/4 miles to I 40. Get over in your left lane going S and take the I 40 E ramp to I 40 E. For outstanding BBQ get off I 40 at Exit 150 A and go N on S Walker Ave. Take your second left on Reno and go E to Oklahoma. Take a right on Oklahoma and go to S E 2nd. Take a right and go to Johnny Bench Drive to Earl's BBQ. You can see Earl's from I 40 but it sure is difficult to reach. The BBQ makes it worth the effort.

You may want good ole country food for breakfast or lunch or a fine steak for dinner. Cattlemen's Steakhouse located in the Oklahoma Stockyards offers outstanding road food and it's the most convenient location off I 40 in Oklahoma City, OK. Get off I 40 at Exit 148 A and go S on S Agnew Ave. to Cattlemen's Steakhouse. I would have a hard time trying to choose between fried chicken, BBQ or Cattlemen's country food.

In Asheville don't miss 12 Bones for some of the best barbeque you've ever had. There are two locations: the original in the River Arts District and the south location on Sweeten Creek Road. Check their website as they have odd hours (they close pretty early). Also in Asheville, do not miss the Sunny Point Cafe: their food is wonderful and relatively inexpensive (though not really roadfood).

Also in Asheville is Papas and Beer, really good, fresh Mexican food, friendly fun place and quite inexpensive.